Alan Shearer predicts Newcastle’s 2022/23 season & makes new signing plea amid injury concern

Alan Shearer has been speaking to the BBC about his hopes and fears for Newcastle United ahead of the new 2022/23 Premier League season – which kicks off tomorrow night when Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace.

Our former number nine believes it will be a bridge too far to see us ‘fighting it out with Manchester United’ for a place in the top six, feeling we will instead compete for the spots between 7th and 9th this season.

He reckons that is ‘realistic’ – reminding fans that we finished just three points behind 8th last season after a stunning run of form since the turn of the year – but warns that new signings in the attacking third are very much needed.

Shearer worries about Callum Wilson’s injury history and thinks we “definitely” need to strengthen in this department, namechecking Leicester’s James Maddison and Harvey Barnes after rumours of recent bids.

Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of the new season, here’s what he had to say on all things NUFC:

“I’d love to say I think Newcastle will be fighting it out with Manchester United for a place in the top six, but I don’t quite see that happening yet.

“Eddie Howe has already done a great job to turn the club around since he was appointed as manager in November and now my hope is that they will be challenging for seventh, eighth or ninth place, which I think is realistic with the squad they’ve got at the moment. They finished 11th last time, and were only three points off eighth place.

“Another signing or two could make the difference there, especially up front – Chris Wood arrived from Burnley in January but so far he is the only striker Howe has signed.

“With Callum Wilson’s history, you would think at some stage he is going to get another injury and they will need some more attacking options.

“Whether they go for a striker or a different type of forward player – there have been reports about bids for Leicester’s James Maddison and Harvey Barnes – it is definitely in that department that they need to strengthen.”